A review meeting chaired by Minister of State for Agriculture Ashish Jaiswal discussed the Orange Cluster initiative aimed at enhancing the income of orange growers in Vidarbha. The focus was on strategies like providing disease-free planting material, setting up high-technology nurseries, rejuvenating old orchards, utilizing artificial intelligence and digital technologies, and improving post-harvest management.
The meeting also delved into various aspects of the orange crop, emphasizing processing, value addition, branding, and export potential. Attendees included officials like Agriculture Department Secretary Parimal Singh, MLAs, and agricultural experts. Minister Jaiswal highlighted the initiative’s goal of elevating Vidarbha’s orange growers’ income and positioning Maharashtra’s oranges prominently in global markets.
He stressed the need for a holistic approach to strengthen the orange value chain, addressing challenges such as climate change, disease control, and quality planting material shortages. The Minister urged coordinated efforts among departments for effective implementation and emphasized the importance of workshops for nursery operators and guidance sessions for orange growers.
Ashish Jaiswal, Vidarbha, Orange Cluster, Maharashtra, Agriculture Department, Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Citrus Fruit Improvement Centre, Nagpur, Amravati, Wardha
